Travelling with prescription medication: TSA rules and the countries that ban common drugs

As of October 2026. Sources: https://www.tsa.gov and https://travel.state.gov Domestic (TSA) - Medication is allowed in carry-on and checked bags. Keep it in your carry-on so it is not lost. - Medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols are allowed above the 3.4 oz (100 ml) limit. Tell the officer at the start of screening. - TSA does not require pills to be in their original bottles, but state laws on prescription labelling vary. Original labelled containers avoid questions. International This is where people get into real trouble. Rules are set by the destination country, and some ban medicines that are routine in the US. - Japan prohibits stimulant medications containing amphetamine, including Adderall, even with a prescription, and restricts products with pseudoephedrine. Bringing more than a month's supply of other prescription medication requires an import certificate. Check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare guidance before you go. - The United Arab Emirates and several other countries restrict many controlled medicines and require advance approval. - CBD and other cannabis products are illegal in many countries, including some where travellers do not expect it, and THC limits can be zero. What to do: 1. Look up each destination on travel.state.gov, then the destination embassy's site for medicine rules. 2. Carry a copy of the prescription and a doctor's letter with the generic drug name. 3. Bring enough for the trip plus a few days, in original packaging. For how drugs interact with each other and with food, the Library has reference pages; start at https://wiki.soapbox.community/wiki/Cytochrome_P450_System_Inhibition_and_Induction.